Swarthmoor Hall 2008 Programme

Paul Milling has been a Quaker for many years and is a retire industrial chemist. His wife, Rachel, is a teacher.

With them we will explore how silent contemplation leads us to play an active part in the world and guides us with courage and sensitivity to raise awareness constructively, of the insanity of societies values of, and our selfish abuse of, our environment.

10.45  What can we do?

11.30   Contemplative silence

12.00   Emmaus Walk

12.30   Lunch to share

1.45     How can we do it?

2.30    Contemplative silence

3.00    Discussion

3.15    Tea and ends 

In May 2007 Beth Allen gave the Swarthmore Lecture "Ground and Spring: Foundations of Quaker Discipleship".

This weekend will go deeper into some if the issues raised; in particular, we will look at the ideas of early Friends such as George Fox and Francis Howgill, and the work of Swarthmoor Hall in the early days and today, as both a solid foundation and a source of renewal for the Quaker movement.

There will be plenty of discussion and contributions from everyone present. 

£145 residential, £98 non-residential

An opportunity for people to join an organised pilgrimage and worshipping group, based at Swarthmoor Hall in the heart of the 1652 country.

The group will follow the journey of George Fox, when he came north in 1652 and recruited many people to the growing movement that is now the Religious Society of Friends.
We will visit Pendle Hill, Brigflatts Meeting House and Firbank Fell, the Quaker Tapestry in Kendal, Swarthmoor Hall and Sunbrick burial ground , where Margaret Fell is buried.

All the visits will be made by minibus, price included.

Continuation of the work for the Swarthmoor Textiles Project.

Come and work with others on seventeenth century style textiles to grace Swarthmoor Hall: be inspired by it’s peace and tranquillity as you practice traditional pursuits. This week is for all those who enjoy hand or machine sewing.

The Quaker way is one of responding to the divine within and living it out in the world. In this we have much to learn from, and share with, other mystical traditions.

This weekend will explore some of these links and will also address our own personal journeys through music, poetry, and worship sharing. 

Harvey Gillman, formerly outreach secretary of Britain Yearly Meeting, and Rowntree Quaker Fellow, has written widely on spirituality and language, and is a regular facilitator at Quaker and ecumenical weekends. He has also been involved in a spiritual direction network.

Our faith as Quakers is based on experience, rather than on authority or doctrine. But what is the experience? We shall consider first what the experience was at the beginning of our movement. We shall then undertake an experiment to see if that experience is still available to us.

Finally, we shall reflect on the significance of the light for our lives today. This can be a searching and powerful experience. Participants should gain a deeper understanding of the Quaker experience, but also a surprising new insight into themselves.

 Rex Ambler has travelled widely among Friends giving talks & workshops on Quaker faith & practice. He has also written books on George Fox & Quaker spirituality.

An opportunity for people to join an organised pilgrimage and worshipping group, based at Swarthmoor Hall in the heart of the 1652 country.

The group will follow the journey of George Fox, when he came north in 1652 and recruited many people to the growing movement that is now the Religious Society of Friends.
We will visit Pendle Hill, Brigflatts Meeting House and Firbank Fell, the Quaker Tapestry in Kendal, Swarthmoor Hall and Sunbrick burial ground , where Margaret Fell is buried.

All the visits will be made by minibus, price included.

The end of August is the beginning of the season of mellow fruitfulness.

Using organic raw cane sugar and the natural fruits from the gardens and grounds we can make jams and syrups and jellies! There will be teams of two people with their own kitchen and jam making equipment, as well as an opportunity to all work together.

We hope to make different preserves for the Hall larder. So, if you have favourite recipes for apple, blackberry, blackcurrent, damson, quince, or raspberry, bring them along.
There will be tuition and recipes to follow for those who want to learn.
Everyone can take samples home with them at the end of the weekend.

An opportunity to take time out and relax and enjoy the peaceful surroundings of Swarthmoor Hall.

Join in with a range of quiet activities or just “be”.

·       Sit out and read, watch the wildlife or meditate in the gardens and grounds.

·       Go for walks around Ulverston and the Furness peninsula.

·       Bring your bike and take the quiet back roads and explore the places many visitors to the Lakes miss.

·       Worship and worship sharing opportunities, as we grow into a supportive community.

·       Quiet room and alternative activity room.

An informal and friendly day for anyone wanting to find out more about Quakerism.

Meet Quakers and hear why, and how, they became members.

General discussion on worship, Advices and Queries, Testimonies and anything else you may wish to raise and have discussed.